Bubba Chandler Stats & More - Pirates Promote Top Pitching Prospect

The Pittsburgh Pirates are making headlines for the 2025 season by bringing up their best pitching prospect, Bubba Chandler, from Triple-A Indianapolis. The 22-year-old righty will have his contract selected on Friday prior to the series against the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park, and he will go in a bulk relief role. This is a move to strengthen the Pirates' bullpen, and fantasy managers get to acquire a high-ceiling arm in September. Let's take a look at Chandler's profile, performance, and fantasy position.

Bubba Chandler Prospect Status

Bubba Chandler is now baseball's top-most pitching prospect. Signed by the Pirates in the third round of the 2021 MLB draft from high school in Georgia, Chandler started as a two-way prospect before moving to focus on pitching exclusively in 2023. His meteoric development has established him as one of the highest-level prospects, with his name frequently appearing on lists of the best minor league prospects. Scouts admire his mid-90s peak fastball of 98 mph, accompanied by an elegant 86-87 mph slider and upper-80s changeup. His athletic ability as a shortstop and quarterback aids his command, though control has been spotty at times. The Pirates encouraged him to work on his secondary pitches, and his Triple-A dominance is a measure that he is up for the majors. This September call also benefits Pittsburgh as far as handling his service time goes. Chandler's ceiling is that of a frontline starter, which is comparable to other young Pirates aces.

Bubba Chandler Stats

Chandler's Triple-A season in 2025 has shown both the upside and the areas in which he can be improved. In 24 appearances in Indianapolis, he was 5-6 with a 4.05 ERA in 100 innings, with 121 strikeouts and 53 walks. His WHIP was 1.48, a result of some issues with command, but his strikeout rate (around 10.9 K/9) shows that he can miss bats.

He's had jewels, such as some higher-strikeout outings, but also experienced uneven stretches, such as his latest run with a 7.79 ERA. That probably is why he was brought in as a reliever to acclimate him to MLB duty. His minor-league career has shown consistent improvement, such as a 3.73 ERA and solid peripherals that indicate that he is ready to excel.

Bubba Chandler Fantasy Baseball Outlook

For fantasy, Chandler's promotion is a gold mine with the playoffs on the horizon. Beginning in a bulk relief role, pitching several innings following an opener, he can still provide strikeout and ratio value, particularly in leagues that count holds or quality relief work. With Pittsburgh's rotation stacked with young superstars, Chandler should be getting starts soon if he keeps it up.

In redraft leagues, he's a stash in deeper (12-team or deeper) leagues and a straight add in 15-team leagues or leagues with IL/NA slots. He has a high ceiling: expectations are for him as a top-200 starter with double-digit Ks per game upside once he gets stretched out. His mid-90s heat and breaking balls should be able to bring down a sub-4.00 ERA and 9+ K/9 in the big leagues right away.

In dynasty and keeper formats, Chandler is a long-term staff ace with SP1 potential in 2026. Ills are walks and home runs at PNC Park, but his upside warrants the gamble. Watch his role; a switch to the rotation would increase his value tenfold. Acquire him now before his first start starts a waiver-wire frenzy.